Independence is our North Star
Funding Philosophy
PawPlacer exists to solve problems we faced in the field—not to chase valuations or hit investor milestones.
Self-funded & sustainable
We are fully self-funded. We don’t depend on venture capital, grants, or municipal contracts—which lets us keep quality high and priorities clear.
No investor pressure
We build what organizations need—not what plays in a pitch deck. Our roadmap comes from real use in the field, not boardrooms.
No bureaucracy
No committees, no red tape. We ship often and iterate with direct feedback from shelter teams and fosters.
Long-term by default
We invest in reliability, security, and maintainability. We don’t chase vanity features or deadlines set for ROI optics.
What “enough” looks like
Our founder funded PawPlacer so we could build it correctly: secure infrastructure, fair pay, and the space to iterate. The goal isn’t to multiply capital—it’s to use it well.
No data brokerage
We do not sell or share user data. Ever.
Protecting constituent data
Data collected from adopters, fosters, and volunteers remains yours and under your control.
No lock-in
No long-term traps. Leave anytime with your data intact.
Guaranteed data access
Read-only access and exports are available regardless of plan status.
Aligned capital only
We will not accept funding that conflicts with animal-welfare outcomes.
Why we decline municipal contracts
Municipal procurement brings politics, long cycles, and constraints that slow product work, stifle innovation, tire out staff, and raise costs.
We focus where we can move fastest and do the most good: independent rescues, foster networks, and community-led shelters—not red tape.
How we work
Our work culture keeps a small team of exceptional builders—people who could work anywhere and choose to use their skills for good.
We offer autonomy, top-of-market pay, and thoughtful benefits so the team can craft secure, reliable, and beautifully made software. When talented people are trusted and aligned with purpose, progress is fast—and organizations feel it first.
Pricing commitments
Forever-Free Plan
Our forever-free plan is always available, even if you cancel your paid plan. It's perfect for small shelters, individual fosters, or anyone wanting to try out the platform.
Grandfathering
Keep your current price while your plan is active.
No hidden fees
No per-pet fees, platform cuts, or add-on traps.
Data portability & exit
Anytime exports
Export your data in CSV format whenever you want, as often as you want.
Read-only after cancellation
You can always access your data in read-only mode after cancelling your plan, or export it at any time.
First-party SDK
Pet data is always available for export or retrieval via our first-party SDK.
“We don't need investors because we already have what most startups never find: purpose, trust, and enough runway to do the work right.”
— Kyle Leighton, Founder & CEO